Deputy Speaker Nazim against increasing insurance plans for Judges

Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Dhiggaru constituency Ahmed Nazim has said that although judges have requested that the premium for their insurance coverage be increased, there are no results seen of the work they do after taking hefty salaries.

Speaking in today's meeting of the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, where discussions were held on the proposal to increase judges' insurance, Nazim said that if this was to be considered, then an overall review has to be done on the work of the judiciary. He said that hundreds of cases remain pending at the courts, and alleged that no change has been observed despite Judges' pay having been recently increased.

"One Judge has 543 cases. Even the Judge with the least amount of cases has 112. There has to be something that is being done if they are taking MVR 62,000 as pay," he said.

As an example, he said that there are cases at the Civil Court which haven't had a single hearing in two years. Nazim said that while requesting for an increase in insurance coverage, efforts must be made to improve the work at the courts.

"I do not believe, at all, that the judiciary's health insurance premium should be increased," Nazim asserted.

Nazim went on to note that Judges tend to retire early and continue taking the insurance and privileges. He said that healthy, middle-aged judges also tend to take retirement packages and just stay at home.

He maintains that although each government proclaims that they will reform and improve the judiciary, this remains yet to be done.

"If this can be achieved through reforming JSC, then that, too, needs to be done. We need to find permanent solutions for these issues," he said.

Nazim said that currently 10 percent of the insurance premium has be to be paid personally so as to encourage the individuals to be cautious about their health and lead health conscious lives. Judges' insurance premium was also set with this approach, he said.

"For example, if we look at New Zealand, there, if a person is a smoker, then the premium he has to pay will be higher."

"If people lead lives whatever way they like, then the government does not have to bear the costs of their healthcare. Drinking energy drinks, smoking cigarettes, living unhealthy lifestyles, and still expecting the government to cover health care costs, that's the mindset now," he said.

The judiciary requested for the government to cover the 10 percent of the premium that they currently pay themselves as well. However, members of the committee have said that the change had been previously brought on the request of judges themselves.